MONTPELIER, Vt. - The Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economic Collaborative (VOREC) steering committee will host a series of public forums to gather input from Vermonters on how to leverage and strengthen the State’s outdoor recreation assets to grow the economy. The dates and locations of the public forums are:

The public forums will be open house style, and will solicit feedback and ideas on how Vermont might achieve the following principal objectives identified by the private-public steering committee:

Promote business opportunities.

Increase participation opportunities.

Strengthen the quality and extent of our recreational resources.

Strengthen the stewardship of our recreational resources.

“We hope that local businesses, public officials, organizations and the public will provide their ideas about specific actions related to our four main objectives,” said Michael Snyder, Commissioner of Forests, Parks and Recreation and VOREC chair. “VOREC can only be successful through inclusion and collaboration with all stakeholders, so we want to hear from all Vermonters.”

In June, Governor Phil Scott signed an Executive Order tasking the 15-member steering committee to provide recommendations on how to promote prudent stewardship and economic growth. Input from public forums will be incorporated into the recommendations.

"There is genuine consensus among the VOREC committee that a stronger outdoor recreation economy in Vermont has the ability to benefit other economic sectors across the state as well,” said Drew Simmons, VOREC member and owner of Pale Morning Media in Waitsfield.

For people who cannot attend an in-person meeting, or prefer to submit their ideas electronically, an online survey will go live on September 12th on the VOREC webpage: www.fpr.vermont.gov/VOREC. For more information about this initiative, please visit www.fpr.vermont.gov/VOREC.